The Spring Water turned Darkish just before Indira Gandhi was assassinated.
When black or darkish, it’s believed to be an indication of inauspicious times for Kashmir. In 1886, Walter Lawrence, the-then British settlement commissioner for land, during his visit to the spring, reported the water of the spring to have a violet tinge.
Kashmiris claim to have observed a darkish or murky tinge to the water just before the assassination of Indira Gandhi and the 1989 insurgency in the valley.
This is the Temple where Ravana offered her kheer (rice pudding), which Goddess Bhavani accepted.
Kheer Bhavani Temple is at a distance of 14 miles east of Srinagar near the village of Tula Mula,Kashmir.
Other names of Kheer Bhavani
Maharagya Devi,
Ragnya Devi,
Rajni,
RagnyaBhagwati,
The Color of the Water Spring indicates auspicious or auspiciousness.
The Temple is constructed over a Water Spring.
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This spot is now called vata-shun. Haider Malik Chadoora calls this spring “Votur-Gang”, and relates that its defiling, brought a fear of a snow-fall in Summer Hassan supported Haider Malik and has called it ‘votur-nag’. Now this spring is used by the water-works department (PHE) as a water-source.
A mela is held at this spring, on the 12th of the bright-half of Shravana. It has been called Achha-ra-na Nag in Harmukh Mahatamya.
Raithan is to the North-West of Srinagar 32 km away. Near the village, between the Son-moi river and the road, there a very large stone which the Hindus have been worshipping since time immemorial as a form of Goddess Ragniya.
Legend:
Maharagya was pleased with the devotion of Ravana and appeared before him and Ravana got an image of the Goddess installed in Sri Lanka.
However, the Goddess became displeased with the vicious and licentious life of Ravana and so didn’t want to stay in Sri Lanka.
Therefore, she is believed to have instructed Lord Hanuman to get the image from Sri Lanka and install it at the holy spot of Tula Mulla.
The mention of Kheer Bhawani is found in Kalhana‘s Rajtarangini. Kalhana writes that the sacred spring of Tula Mula is situated in a marshy ground.
The name of the spring is Mata Ragini Kund (pond).
Maharagini is the form of Durga Bhagvati.
Tula Mula and the spring of Maharagya has been considered very sacred.
Thousands of years ago, many floods occurred in Kashmir and the sacred spring of Tula Mula was inundated under its sway and the holy place could nowhere be traced.
At last, Kashmir’s Yogi Krishna Pandit had a dream in which the Goddess appeared to him and directed that she would swim in the form of a snake at the proper place and that he should stick large poles to demarcate the holy spot in the marsh land.
Subsequently, when the water subsided there the holy spot was discovered.
This event happened during the Samvat 4041 (Hindu lunar date). Abul-Fazal in his book Aini-Akbari mentions the area of Tula Mula extending over a region of hundred bighas (unit of land area) of land, which used to sink in the marshy lands during the summer season
How To reach and Festivals.
Deities: Ragnya Devi (Hindu Goddess)
Location: At Tullamula of Srinagar
Built by: Maharana Pratap Singh
Built in: 1912
Attraction: Natural Spring
Best time to visit: Around the year
he eighth day of the full moon in May holds great significance for the devotees of Ragnya Devi.
They fast on this particular day and gather at the temple in huge numbers.
It is believed that on this day, the goddess changes the colo.of the spring’s waters.
The Kheer Bhavani temple serves as the venue for an annual festival held in May-June, on the occasion of Jesht Ashtami.
Another Festival at Kheer Bhavani temple Shukla Paksh Ashtami.
On this day, havans/yagnas are performed to please the goddess.
by Air: Srinagar airport is approximately 20 km away.
by Rail: the nearest railhead for Srinagar. Trains from Delhi, Calcutta, Pune, Mumbai and other cities arrive at this station only.
by Road: One can easily reach Kheer Bhavani Temple by taking regular Buses or by hiring Taxis from Srinagar.
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